Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Tobias snorts. “Romantic reunion.”
He has no idea. Good.
But Zack looks disbelieving, and his suspicion irritates me.
“Isn’t a little odd,” he says, “that she just shows up and sees you again? Do you believe she’s telling the truth? How do you know she didn’t stake you out?”
I can picture her innocent eyes looking at mine, and I know there’s no way she planned this. No way she lied.
“She didn’t stake me out,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Okay,” Zack says. “I’m happy for you, man, if you are. But how does this play into why we’re here today?”
I nod. “So she was totally fine while on the floor and guests were here, then became violently sick almost instantly. I wondered if someone had slipped something into her drink.”
Zack furrows his brow, giving me a look that says he’s not sure I’ve got a valid point, but he’s too polite to criticize.
“Listen,” I tell him. “She hadn’t had anything to eat. And after she got it all out of her system, she was fine. No residual side effects like a virus or anything like that.”
“Was she drinking on an empty stomach?” Tobias asks. “If she was, she could’ve just been vomiting because she was drunk?”
I shake my head. “She wasn’t drunk. Believe me. Buzzing, maybe, but this was different.”
“Got it,” Zack says. “Fair enough. So what else did you see?”
“Well, I went back to the bar and found the surveillance cameras over the bar were covered with fabric, as if someone wanted to temporarily mask the feed.”
Now Zack looks stern, his lips set in a thin line. “No wires cut?”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
“And Tobias, you’ve gone over the feed?”
Tobias nods. “Yeah. Nothing amiss. One minute, the feed is coming through as usual, the next, things are wobbly then it’s black.”
“Interesting. But the only guy who would have access to the surveillance cameras by the bar would be Travis, and we all know how much we can trust him.”
We do.
Zack looks to Tobias. “Any new members lately?’
Tobias nods. “Lots,” he says.
“Guy named Viktor?” I ask. I feel kinda like a douche for bringing him up, and throwing Marla’s new man under the bus, but I don’t want to leave any evidence behind and I’ve learned to listen to my gut.
Tobias nods. “Him, and a few of his cousins,” he says. “They all come up squeaky-clean, though. Ties to the Russian military, but nothing more. No records. Not even so much as a parking ticket.”
“Got it.”
“Okay,” Zack says. “Tobias, do I have permission to investigate further?”
Tobias nods. “Listen, man, our members’ safety is important. You’re on my payroll, and they submitted applications, so have at it.” He turns back to me. “Literally all we have for information is that Chandra was throwing up, and someone blocked the bar feed?”
I nod, suddenly feeling foolish. I wish I had more, and it was enough that I didn’t want to neglect mentioning it, but hell I’m not about to let this slide. My girl’s safety is on the line, and if anyone threatened that…
Tobias nods, too. “Well, now we know, so let’s keep an eye on things?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’ll give Travis a call and check in with him,” Zack says.
“Right,” Tobias says. “Check back in tomorrow, everyone’s on alert tonight. I’ll fill in Braxton and Chloe, too. Definitely helps having a private investigator and cop on the lookout.”
“Good call,” I say, getting to my feet.
“Chandra coming here tonight?” Tobias asks.
I nod. “Yeah.”
He smiles at me. “Good.”
I leave the office unsettled. I don’t want to talk to them about Chandra and whatever is going on with us now. Hell, she’s coming here tonight. They’ll see her soon enough. And I’m not even sure what I’ll tell them even if I did talk about her. When I get to my private room, I don’t know if it’s my imagination or that I just want her here, because I imagine her still in my bed, the room illuminated with her light and permeated with her lingering, intoxicating scent. My cock throbs at the memory of her naked and stripped, and hell I want her back here.
Next, I check the linens to be sure I’m well stocked. Towels and washcloths, blankets and clean sheets line the small utility closet in the bathroom. The plastic grocery bag I brought with me contains a whole variety of feminine things I imagine she needs. I went to the “travel size” section of the store and bought anything that looked pink and lavender and feminine. I wasn’t even really sure what I was buying. I should maybe up my girly toiletry game. I’ll have to pay closer attention.
Next, I make sure the small, dorm-sized fridge I have here has water and fresh fruit, a few sandwiches, and a variety of snacks.
Then, the toy table.
Anticipation curls in my belly when I make my way to the implements. I’ll outfit this section. Soon. But not tonight. For some reason, the idea of wielding anything on her doesn’t appeal to me like it has in the past, and it’s a little disconcerting. I’ve always loved gripping the handle of a paddle or crop or my sturdy leather belt. But when I think about it, I make up my mind. With Chandra, I want nothing between us but the intimacy of skin to skin contact.